When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 and the Lowe ST170 2011 are modified vee designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 at 15,0 ft versus Lowe ST170 2011 at 17,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe ST170 2011 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 939 lbs less than the Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 at 56 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 80 hp for the Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 and 75 hp for the Lowe ST170 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe ST170 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe R1655N Roughneck 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Lowe ST170 2011. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.